Hi! Sorry, really short AN for today. I'm in a rush. Also, anyone read the new book yet?

R&R!

Enjoy~

"Alright! I want everyone in a straight line! I'm going to partner you up."

A collective groan rippled through the crowd of students. It was the dreaded Square Dance Day in gym class. Square Dance Day only came about 5 times a school year, but almost everyone there felt that that was about 6 times too many.

We aren't even allowed to choose our partners? Jackson thought glumly. Secretly, though, he was kind of glad. No girl in her right mind would choose him, seeing as he wasn't exactly Mr. Popular right now.

Under the watchful eye of the gym coach, Jackson went to the end of the half-formed line. As it usually went with these kinds of things, all of the girls clustered together at one side, and all the boys made something similar to a line on the other.

"I said a straight line," the coach grumbled, "But we're wasting time, and I think this is about as close as I'm going to get anyway." He took out a list of names and squinted at it. "Okay, first things first." He looked straight at Jackson. "We'll start at the front. Mr. Jones?"

"Here?" Jackson offered, slightly nervous.

Coach glanced at the group of girls, then checked his list again. "I'm going to put you with...let's see...How about Ms. Peet?"

What?! Jackson was sure he could not have heard right, yet Coach looked completely serious. Even so, Jackson was sure that he must be playing some kind of joke. "Um...I don't think that she's in this class." Jackson said truthfully. "Are you sure you don't have the wrong list?"

He heard snickers to his right, but he ignored them.

Coach gave him a long, hard look. "I don't have the wrong list! If I did, then you wouldn't be on it!"

Oh, yeah... Jackson felt slightly stupid. But Ruby isn't in this class! She can't be!

"Of course Ms. Peet is in this class!" Coach continued. "She has been since the start of the school year. Now, go to the section closest to the door."

Jackson obediently walked to indicated section, wishing he could just run out the door.

Ruby joined him there, looking more than a little annoyed.

Jackson didn't meet her gaze. He just stared straight ahead, barely noticing Coach calling out more names, or the three other 'couples' joining them.

Finally, everyone was paired up. Coach grabbed a big black box. He plugged it in, then twisted a few knobs. Fiddle music drifted out of the speakers, snapping Jackson out of his daze. He glanced around at everyone in their square. Aside from him and Ruby, there was Flinch and Matilda, who seemed quite happy with the arrangement; Lori Baker and Steve Sarvar. Steve was expressionless while Lori looked at Jackson with disgust; and two others he didn't really recognize.

"Well?" Ruby whispered as she grabbed Jackson by the arm. "Don't just stand there! You look ridiculous."

"What? Oh, sorry." Jackson said. Listening to the directions from Coach, he bowed, then hastily did the same to Matilda(his corner), who smirked as she returned it.

"Heads forward and back!" Coach called with his megaphone, clearly enjoying watching the students suffer. "Sides forward and back!"

Jackson grabbed Ruby's hand and stepped forward. Steve and Lori also stepped forward.

Steve aimed a small kick at Jackson, but he managed to step back before it connected.

"Do-Sa-Do your partners, all!"

Jackson locked arms with his partner and Do-Sa-Do'ed the best he could without falling over. After that, though, the rest seemed like a blur. A loud, colorful blur, that included lots of promenading, hand-holding with a girl who more or less hated his guts, and Steve tripping over his own feet and stumbling into Lori. That event had everyone(Sans Steve and Lori), even the students Jackson didn't really know, laughing their heads off.

Jackson laughed the hardest. Steve took personal offense to this, and, looking enraged, lashed out with his foot at Jackson. He missed and hit Ruby in the ankle instead.

Ruby had tried to dodge it, but the floor had been waxed the night before and was still slippery. She fell...

And Jackson just barely caught her, like they had just finished a tango. He was instantly reminded of those ridiculously sappy movies where almost every scene was like this-then forced the thought away, feeling sick. The absolute last thing he needed to do right now was throw up.

Everyone in their square stopped laughing and stared at them. In fact, so did people in other squares.

His face burning, Jackson set Ruby back on her feet. It wasn't easy; She was frozen, and her face looked as red as Jackson felt.

Trying not to make eye contact with anyone else, the pair managed to get back into the dance. After that, things went smoothly. Nobody fell (though there were some near misses towards the end) and the bell finally rung for next period.

Everyone all but ran to escape the gym. Everyone except for Jackson, who wanted to give everyone else a head start.

Flinch came up behind him. "Hey, bro. Awesome catch back there."

Jackson turned towards him and feigned surprise. "What catch? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Flinch smirked. "Forgot already? Okay, but you're going to wish they did this again tomorrow next gym class."

Jackson frowned. "I doubt it. What are we doing next gym class? You know, just out of curiosity."

Flinch laughed. "Weren't you listening to Coach? We have Scooter Races tomorrow!"

Jackson blanched. If there was anything worse than Square Dancing...

It was Scooter Races.

Sometimes Jackson could swear that the gym teacher hated all of them and did these kinds of things on purpose.

Oh, and I'd like to thank my new beta reader, legolasorbraceface!

Until next time!

LoL,

~Riverstone